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| Reviews Summary for ICOM IC-7700 |
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Reviews: 74
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Average rating: 4.7/5
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MSRP: $6999.95
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Description: Description: The ICOM 7700 200W HF/6M has been introduced at the 2007 Dayton Hamvention. ICOM has followed all the success of the beautiful IC-7800 with the smaller, single receiver IC-7700. It utilizes two separate 32-bit floating point TI DSP chips, has a 7-inch wide TFT display, built in RTTY/PSK31 receive and transmit using a USB Keyboard interface, external video connection, high res spectrum scope, plus high voltage MOSFET 200 Watt PA.
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write your own review of the ICOM IC-7700.
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W8YG
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Rating: 2/5
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Nov 6, 2009 23:39
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Oh Man
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Well its been almost a year with this radio and as I went through the radio for one more check before I send it back to Icom . A friend said hey lets go to 5.33050 . I say okay and it wont transmit there. What?? So it seems I have gotten the Euro model of this radio. I live in Michigan. Well I am not gonna keep this radio at all they are gonna have send me what ordered.
I am wondering if thats a problem I should take up with the dealer will call HRO tomorrow and talk with them about it.
I dont even think I should pay for shipping heck this isnt even the USA version.
Would I buy any radio at this price again..NEVER!!! GET A PRO or and the old trusty Kenwood.
I wont have another big radio like this again.It was a dream that turned in to a nightmare.
I am running FT1000MP now. Will I sell the 7700 to some one. Nope dont want the bad Karma.
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NN9S
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 24, 2009 07:58
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Another point of View
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I am a owner of our beloved IC-7700 and have been happy with it. Mine as a few others had a final PA failure and was returned to Icom in WA. I had no warning, did nothing wrong to cause this problem, and had ran the radio before its failure under the same conditions for months. I was on CW (160) with a 1.3 swr running 80 watts at the time of failure. Icom was very fast and complete with my repair in under 2 weeks door to door after I shipped it.
But the reason I posted this thread is to say this. One thing to consider is the cost of shipping a radio this heavy and the struggling to repack it and ship it. I paid $147.00 one way (Icom pd the return) but if it had been out of warranty it would have been near $300 in shipping cost alone. Yes years ago we had radio's this heavy but years ago we could work on them our self or had a buddy in the club etc who could. Years ago we had a dealer in the area unlike today. It is not anyone's fault but today when a radio fails it is costly and that cost is much higher on this size, weight, and class of radio.
If I had it to do over again I would not buy this radio again for the reasons stated above. I would stick with something like the new 7600 or Pro III etc that I can handle easier. My ham shack is in the basement and I shutter to think of the next time (hopefully not again) my 7700 needs service. IMHO I don't think I gained that much performance over say the 7600. I know, I know I can hear the nasayer's loud and clear and to some I am sure it is justified but my post was not to start a can of worms about one model verses another but to bring out a different view. I can tell you it puts a very sick felling in the bottom of your tummy when a PA fails on this radio.
Yes I will admit I am getting older (maybe call me OLD). But many more of us are also. It is to this group I am talking too. Yes it is true there is nothing like unpacking a new IC 7700 and setting it on the desk top for the first QSO but also there is nothing like repacking it for shipping to ICOM and dealing with the complex issues that ride along with the repair.
With this my fellow OM's thanks for hearing me out and good DX, good health, and God Bless
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VA7OJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 4, 2009 08:17
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Perfect 1st anniversary
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My IC-7700 has now been in service for just over a year, and continues to delight me.
I am now using a Heil PR-781 mic with the 7700, and am receiving very good audio reports. The DSP features, including the noise blanker, enable me to "pull up" weak SSB signals under often very difficult band and ambient-noise conditions.
I can still confidently say that the 7700 is the best HF transceiver I have ever owned.
73, Adam VA7OJ/AB4OJ
http://www.ab4oj.com/icom/ic7700/main.html
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IZ1OSP
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 20, 2009 15:01
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ONLY THE BEST!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I AM SURPRISE FROM THIS RADIO. IT'S A NEW MODE TO MAKE QSO AND DX. LESS NOISE, VERY GOOD AGC, EASY TO USE. VERY GOOOOOOOD ICOM!
73'
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W1JUS
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 8, 2009 14:46
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The Best
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Hi everbody the AGC can be turned off on a 7700 --
When the AGC VC button is repeatedly depressed fer
about 1 second ; it will toggle between AGC VR ( which I use all the time ) , AGC OFF & AGC ON.
73 & Have Fun -- Ray
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WB8B
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 6, 2009 15:30
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Job Well Done
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This review of the Icom IC-7700 is essentially a benchmark comparison to my Icom IC-775DSP, which has served me well as the main rig for the last 10 years. My objective is to point out some of the main characteristics that I have observed on the IC-7700. Please note that there are many other apparent qualities of the IC-7700 in regards to phone and digital modes of operation but which go beyond the scope of this review and commentary.
I’ve been an avid, all band, CW DXer for 22 years with emphasis on 160mtrs while also operating in the CQWW-CW, ARLDX-CW, and other contests. I am not a phone op, and am as rare on phone as P5 North Korea is on all the bands, so my review may not help those who favor operating phone. Previously owned rigs include Icom IC-735, 746, 751, 751A, 765, and 775DSP along with a short term in-shack usage of an IC-781 and Yaesu FT-1000MP.
Sometimes we hams fall victim to a “wow” trap when we first get a new rig, just dying to put a review out instead of waiting a while and then giving a more non-biased observation once the new rig’s been in the shack for a while. Before a rig review, it’s nice to hear that the new owner gave some time and attention in performing real A-B comparisons to old shack benchmarks that have been used to for many years. Since I perform testing, validation, and benchmarking of electrical and mechanical components as a test engineer, and am analytical by nature, I can easily state things like I see them and give a non-biased observation even though it was a lot of ‘my’ hard earned money spent.
SELECTIVITY:
The IC-7700 was put to the test against my old IC-775DSP that has the stock cascaded 500 Hz CW filters for the 9 MHz and 455 kHz, and an optional 250 Hz filter by Inrad for the 455 kHz I.F. Please note, there is one CW filter spot empty on the IC-775 which is the place holder for another 250 Hz filter in the 9 MHz I.F. The high pass and low pass receive audio filters were set on the IC-7700 to match the widest settings of those in the IC-775 during my observations.
S9+30dB and greater CW signals were hunted down on all bands with an emphasis on 80/160mtrs. I frequently looked for the perfect recipe for receiver comparisons by searching for those situations where a very weak DX signals fell within 100-200 Hz of those bigger S9+30dB and greater signals. These are the basic metrics (in my opinion) in a receiver that can make or brake getting that weak one in the log while fitting big signal QRM.
What I had found was that both rigs performed almost equally when the filter bandwidth of the IC-7700 was set to the same 250 Hz bandwidth of the IC-775 narrow filter. If the IC-7700 had the shape of the filter set to “soft”, the IC-775 did a better job; but when the IC-7700 had the shape of the filter set to “sharp”, the IC-7700 was slightly more selective. To get the interfering CW signal out the IC-775 pass band, you had to be 200 Hz or greater from the QRM signal, while the IC-7700 could give you an additional 100-125 Hz of playground next to that big signal. The IC-7700 can also go down to a bandwidth of only 50 Hz; this is where the upper hand comes in. I discovered that the IC-7700 is more capable in selectivity verses the IC-775. These observations included repeated deep scrutiny of the weak signals to make sure the classic desense issue was not evident as typically found in older generation DSP only rigs where close in signals became severely desensitized due to poor blocking dynamic range. I found no audible attenuation from filtering of even the weakest signals, even on the higher 10-15mtr bands where the noise floor was very low and quiet with preamp2 engaged. My consensus is that the IC-7700 has more capability in selectivity due to these selectable narrower bandwidths down to 50 Hz, but without noticeable receiver desense. However, the horse race could get tight if I were to opt for one of those 125 Hz, 455 kHz IF, CW 8-pole filters by Inrad to place inside the IC-775DSP.
SENSITIVITY:
Many hours were spent comparing the IC-7700 to the IC-775 on the higher 10-20mtr bands in search of the weakest signals. What I had found was that the receiver sensitivity of each rig was practically equally sensitive. This was also the case even on the noisiest of bands including 80/160mtrs in the late evenings while pulling out the weakest signals I could find. The comparisons were done with the receiver preamps in the OFF, preamp1 and preamp2 settings. More emphasis was placed on comparing preamp2 of both rigs on the high bands 10-20mtrs. It was a draw between the two receivers by my ears.
ROOFING FILTERS:
One feature on the IC-7700 is the choice of 15, 6 and 3 kHz roofing filters in the filter menu. These filters allow for high values in close in blocking dynamic range to fight against very strong close by signals. To actually hear a difference between the 3 selectable filters, the very strong interfering signal or signal(s) must be somewhere between 6 to 20 kHz or so from your receive center frequency to observe any differences between the filter selections. I aggressively toggled between the three bandwidths during a couple of contests that including many loud stateside signals on 20 and 40mtrs. I honestly did not hear much difference between the three roofing filters. This may have been due to the strongest signals on the bands only making it up around S9 +35dB, and far from 50 to 60 over S9 where various test lab characterizations of the receiver have been done which verified the integrity of the roofing filters performance. A run down to the local AM broadcast band here in the Detroit area provided a myriad of 40-60 over S9 signals to experiment with. I noted a small difference in selectivity when attempting to pull in weak AM signal carriers 10 kHz away from 60 over S9 local station signals. These filters do work, but don’t expect them to jump out at you and act like conventional optional SSB or AM filters with deep skirts.
AGC:
One thing I immediately noticed on the IC-7700 when I got on 160mtrs was that you that can’t shut the AGC off! Oh no? Don’t worry, not a problem. Running the AGC in the OFF position and riding the RF gain was is something I’ve done years on the IC-775 and other rigs when operating 160mtrs, but only because the AGC time constant was still slow even in the fast position. The IC-7700 has a decently fast AGC attack setting selectable down to 100ms that I found very useful when working 160mtrs. The AGC on the IC-7700 is fast enough to help copy those weak signals within frequent large signal transients and static crash pops. After getting used to the IC-7700 fast AGC response, I never realized how extremely slow the IC-775 AGC circuit really was!
NOISE BLANKER:
There haven’t been too many instances where my AC line noise has been terrible enough where I really needed to run the NB feature hard on the IC-7700. There was an instance where I had the classic AC line insulator arcing interference at an S4-S7 signal on 10-17mtrs. This line interference was a little more random and rough in sound than usual, and the IC-775 was having an issue getting rid of all of it, which is usually not the case. A-B comparisons between the two rigs at that time revealed the IC-7700 did a lot nicer job at getting rid of that particular AC line noise. Please note however, the IC-7700 noise blanker is not a “smoking gun” by my standards (none of them are). The IC-7700 still suffers from the problem that every rig I have ever operated has, and that is the NB blanker will fall apart even with adjacent, moderately strong signals, even with the front end preamp in the off position. As an example; 10 meters with no signals on the band and a high level of line noise. Enable the noise blanker and it’s gone, even at the lowest NB level setting and depth. However, get one station calling CQ on the band within 50 kHz and an S4 or greater signal and you will hear a splatter sound from that calling station up and down the band. I think this NB anomaly is one symptom we will never see go away in a receiver.
CW SIDE TONE MONI ADJUSTMENT:
I’m not sure why the IC-7700 manual makes a pictorial reference to the front panel “MONI” control adjustment for the CW side tone, because this control does not function in CW mode. There is a CW side tone level adjustment in one of the set menus for adjustment of the side tone output level, but the “MONI” adjustment on the rigs face does not apply. Most other Icoms I have had in the past included an external “MONI” adjustment without going into a menu. This may, or may not be an issue to other CW ops, but I do find myself adjusting the side tone in the SET menu semi-frequently depending on the level of shack ambient noise.
AF GAIN / SPEAKER:
The first impression I had of the IC-7700 receive audio with the built in speaker was not too good. The internal speaker requires a high level of AF gain setting to obtain a decent level of audio out. However, the internal speaker did produce fairly decent fidelity when listening to some AM broadcast stations in 10 kHz bandwidth. It didn’t take long though to hook up my commercial Motorola communications speaker which improved the audio level greatly. The IC-775 suffers similarly with its internal speaker and I recall even my old IC-765 was the same regards to level output. Many of Icom HF transceivers have been plagued with this issue after the IC-751A era. My old IC-751A will throw you out of the room with just its internal speaker and the AF gain at less than 10-11 o’clock! The IC-7700 has half the volume output at the same setting with its internal speaker. The question is; what happened to Icoms audio output level over the years?
DIGITAL MODES / USB KEYBOARD:
The IC-7700 accepts a USB keyboard to function on PSK and RTTY, along with sending of the four CW memory keyer memories via the keyboard F1-F4 keys (with firmware v1.10). With the ability of the IC-7700 to do both RTTY/PSK31 with its internal modem, it baffles me as to why it couldn’t also include provisions to send CW via the keyboard. I seriously doubt this could have added much, if anything, to the cost of the rig! Keyboard CW with the IC-7700 would have been a very nice feature for us CW ops! Hopefully this is something that could be added in the future with a simple firmware upgrade.
7” COLOR TFT LCD DISPLAY:
I am quite pleased with the brightness and contrast capability of the IC-7700 LCD display. My shack includes a nearby outside window with a moderate level of incoming outdoor light at a 60-90 degree angle from the radios. The display has contrast and brightness settings on the front with a menu setting “pre-adjustment” for the brightness level. I am the type that doesn’t need or want an enormous level of brightness on any kind of display such as a computer monitor or TV screen, so there really aren’t any issues here on the IC-7700. I’ve been content with leaving both brightness control levels down all the way with just a bit of contrast. There’s been just a few times when direct sunlight is close to the operating that desk I’ve turned the brightness up to 40 to 50% and the contrast up a little to compensate. Nice job on the display!
AUTOMATIC TRACKING RF PRESELECTOR:
For those who first operate an IC-7700, you may ask yourself the same question I did regarding the digital preselector. “Does this thing work, or just make a bunch of clicking noises when you dial around the bands making you think it’s doing something?” This automatic preselector adds selectivity ahead of the 1st mixer. It reduces IMD from strong signals near the received frequency. My first verification of the preselector’s integrity was when I was calling CQ on 30mtrs at 200 watts on the IC-775, while tuning around on 15-20mtrs with the IC-7700 with a yagi on the same tower. I definitely detected the infamous IMD noise quite familiar at any field day site or during a contest station with a multiple transmitters going on different bands. When I first heard the interference, the first thing I thought of was to engage this auto preselector feature and see what happens! Well, it worked! The interference from the 200w transmitter at on an antenna on the same tower disappeared! Please note however that under typical, casual, operating environments, where there are no pile-ups, no super big signals or contests going on, you may not even know this feature works. When you do need it though, it is very impressive!
VFO SPLIT OPERATION with XFC BUTTON.
One small inconvenience while operating split VFO in a pile up on the IC-7700 is the type of button used for the XFC (transmit frequency check). I operate many DX pile-ups, and I use this feature literally 100% of the time when working splits. The IC-7700 XFC button is mostly flat against the surface of the face of the rig and located in the top left area of the main VFO knob. I find myself frequently using the finger on one hand to hold in the button, while using the other to tune the VFO. When using an XFC feature, I found the IC-775 more comfortable to use because the button protrudes out a little, so that just the tip of the finger can easily depress the button, while keeping the thumb and index finger free for turning the VFO knob. This allows for easy checking of the TX frequency AND control of the VFO knob at the same time with only one hand, while keeping the other hand free for things like the cw paddles, keyer controls, antenna rotor controls and etc. This may seem like a very small concern, but if you haven’t worked pile-ups in split mode that sometimes last for hours, you just won’t know. The IC-775 has an XFC button that sticks out about an eighth of an inch making it a bit easier to depress with the finger tip AND spin the VFO knob with the same hand at the same time compared to the IC-7700. A “softer touch” button requiring less depression force and protruding out a little from the face of the rig would have been nice. Again, it’s just a small inconvenience.
SUMMARY:
This is serious money for a new rig, but referencing a 1996 AES catalogue shows that $5800 today (the deal ‘I’ got, before the increase to $6500+ now) is the about the same dollar amount one could have spent (inflation adjusted) for a new Kenwood TS-950SDX, Yaesu FT-1000D, a bit more than an Icom IC-775DSP, and also 30% less money than a brand new Collins KWM-2 transceiver in 1959! The Icom IC-7700 is a very capable transceiver with a lot of bells and whistles, but at a price that many may not afford. There are other transceivers available that do a decent job for less money, but without some of the refinements contesters and DXers prefer. An analogy I use on HF rigs is that their cost could be like comparing cars to drive on a long distance trip, driving say 1000 miles a day (this is like a “contest”). Most vehicles (radios) will do the job. Most vehicles (radios) will get you there. The question is, how tired, fatigued and frustrated will you be on the way to your destination? If this happens to you, it’s possible you just don’t have a nice enough vehicle for the trip and you got what you paid for.
I agree with Icom’s marketing phrase used for the IC-7700 as “The Contesters Rig”. That’s exactly what it is and it could also be easily marketed as “The DXers Rig”. The IC-7700 has many receiver refinements and features that provide you the necessary tools and comfort required for those very long durations in the operating chair, making contacts and enjoying the bands, while not getting disappointed like you can with other rigs that provide inadequate selectivity, fatigue from a noisy receiver, and poor ergonomics. HF rigs are a hams tool to get the job done, make contacts, and have fun. ‘You’ have to ultimately be the judge and are governed by what your wallet says and what your operating preferences are. The IC-7700 may not be for you, but at least I can speak for the DXing/Contesting arena, we have a big winner in the shack and, yes, it’s a keeper!
I hope you enjoyed my review and commentary on the IC-7700. I have read many reviews by fellow hams over my 20+ years as a DXer and have accumulated a wealth of information and knowledge from them. I thank all of those who have provided such information. I thought I would return the favor and give a little back, especially for those who may be contemplating an IC-7700.
73
GL DX
Bob WB8B
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MD11DRIVER
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 29, 2009 21:39
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Top Quality and Performance
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is essentially (except for the 9500) Icoms top of the line. The 7800 having two receivers adds to the cost, but the component level in the 7700 is top of the line. Amazing is also the use of a Oven controlled VFO and a decent spectrum analyzer. The Filters are the best I've seen, Noise blanker works on everything I've tried it on, and the LCD screen is the best of any radio I've seen in terms of available controls. My only wishes are backlit button wording, and a few items that can be fixed thru firmware update.
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PY1BR
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 4, 2009 20:23
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Outsatnding
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I used the IC-775DSP for years and the difference is noticeable. The new Ultra Low Noise components generation is making the difference. It’s quieter, consequently much better receiving performance than the previous generation, or the rigs before the Ultra Low Noise components. Regarding the IC-7700, for sure the best radio I have ever used. It’s outstanding. My main objective is DX. Today with that poor propagation the 7700 is helping a lot. Well I am still starting to use it so let’s wait some time, but I am quite sure that is a very good choice besides its high price. I agree that good radios are more expensive than the old ones, but they are much better, really much better than the generation before the Ultra Low Noise components. We all know that the main semiconductor issue is noise. I think that the radio amateur manufacturers are getting close to instruments manufactures much more than before. Also, RF preamps are getting better than before. I believe also that the use of relays instead of semiconductor switch helps a lot. I don’t miss a second receiver so some guys may miss it due to different operation and objectives. In my case the most important is to hear weak stations in the middle of QRM/QRN difficulties. I think we should analyze a radio regarding its performance while working and not when an accidental failure occurs. It may happen with any model or brand. Anyway, I wander what we will have ten years from now. I hope it will possible to send together with the RF signal some mechanism to stimulate the sun to provide better propagation.
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W3VR
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Rating: 5/5
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May 12, 2009 17:05
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Still working well.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Serial number 0201019 purchased last April 2008. I totally agree with the last reviewer on the NB, NR, and I don't miss the Dual Watch either. I used the 7800 before purchasing the 7700, and since. I still do not regret buying the 7700. I think contesting is great, but I do very little of it and for that reason I would not be using the 7800 and its sub receiver to its full potential. Such a fine radio as the 7800 would wasted on me.
A little over a year of ownership, and no problems.
W3VR
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KC1MR
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Rating: 5/5
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May 12, 2009 15:45
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Best bang fer the buck !
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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After my bad experience with the FTdx9000c this honest rig is just unbelievable (not a kit or computer simulator). It all starts with the very classey loose leaf instruction manual; but a spin of the tuning knob which is by far the smoooothest I've ever used and QSY's faster the faster it is spun with a flick of a finger seals the deal !!
Oh yes, the 7700 is by far the quietest; it is only rig that is absolutly silent with preamp #2 turned on even on 50 meters, sometimes it is hard to tell its on!
NR from very little to full on with no distoration, just the way it should be (It is a well known fact that ICOM has thebest NR &NB).
The NR depth and width can be adjusted just by holding the NB button fer 1 sec; no gosh awful series menus (the 9000 has 178 !!).
Manual notch can be adjusted fer nar mid and wide just by pushing the notch button on the front panel.
You can set three seperate DSP-IF filters fer each mode and with passband tuning set the high and low cut seperatly fer each filter (way better than Clr ? and width). The shape can also be changed without
going to a menu
The Speech Comp is very good and not fussy at all
The record / playback actually is usable since You can adjust BOTH the record AND playback levels; I use this feature when calling CQ and
being a net cintrol all the time (I could never get the 9000 's to work,no adjustments).
AGC much smoother also adj w/o going into a menu
Auto Tuner much faster and will easily match swrs over 3to1
Digi-Select works automatically (You'll hear the relays clicking) or it can be turned off.
RTTY/PSK encode/decode usable with the 2 usp ports on the front
To sum it up --easy to use --most of the commonly used adjustments out front --quiet -- as the gentleman said a pure joy
to use -- and no 178 SERIAL MENUS !!
p.s. don't alnost all rigs & speakers use plastic feet ?
pps. I don't miss dual/watch at all ,I just push XFC and watch the
scope
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